Food & Drink
Seamless in Seattle Winner: Kate Burt
This local, "nerdy and flirty" designer took home "Best Everyday Wear" in our 2011 competition.
By Seattle Mag August 9, 2011
This article originally appeared in the September 2011 issue of Seattle magazine.
Kate Burt
Line: Operation + Stitch
Available at: Velouria (Ballard) & Momo (International District)
operationstitch.com
The creative spark: Burt, 30, looks to bold, geometric shapes and surrealistic art to inspire her chic, wearable cotton dresses and tunics, which are thoughtfully infused with cheerful colors, pops of stripe patterns and peek-a-boo, cut-out details. “I like to focus on just one or two great details to create interest without being fussy, like an asymmetrical stitch or incorporating a bold stripe,” she says. “Women want to wear their clothes, not have the clothes wear them. I think subtlety is the best approach.”
The collection: The part-time shopgirl (Burt works at Velouria boutique in Ballard) takes shoppers’ feedback to heart, using washable, natural bamboo and cotton fabrics (no dry-cleaning necessary here) to create body-hugging yet forgiving shift designs. “This particular set is fun, chic and versatile while still being fit for an active woman.”
First garment ever created: “You mean, outside of dresses for my troll dolls? I did make a terrible tunic poncho-like thing for my grandmother when I was in middle school. Ironically, it was a thank-you for teaching me to sew.”
How her personal style influences the designs: “Nerdy and flirty, right? I tend to have a little tomboy in me, but still really love to look feminine without turning towards ruffles and lace.…My attraction to this aesthetic…plus stripes…turn up in my designs.”
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